Loose-leaf binder.



G. 0. DLSON.

Loosf: LEAP BINDER.

n APPLICATION FILED SEPTA, 1908. l v

425C, Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

\ u a ANDREW. l. GRAHAM CO.. PHOTQUTWGRWMRS. W-ASHINCYUN UNrrnD s'rATEs PATENT onmon.

GEORGE 0. OLSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO FORT DEARBORN MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

To all whom tt may concern: Y

Be it known that I, GEORGE O. OLSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to loose-leaf binders of the type commonly known as post binders.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce a binder which is simple in construction, of few parts, and may be cheaply manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking mechanism for binders of the class mentioned which combines great efficiency and simplicity.

Further objects and advantages will be clearly understood from the detailed description hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a loose-leaf binder embodying the features of my invention, the slidable side member being Vshown in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the slidable side member, showing the means for locking said member upon the posts. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cam for operating the locking mechanism.

The base plate 1 has rigidly secured thereto a plurality of posts 2, upon which posts a movable clamping member 3 is adapted to be adjusted and locked at any desired height. I prefer to make the member 3 of an integral piece of sheet metal. As herein shown, said member is formed by folding the piece longitudinally, leaving a space 4 between the sides 5 (Fig. 3) thus formed, and bending the edges 6 of said sides 5 tol ward each other, said edges overlapping. In order to prevent the sides 5 from being spread apart, I provide openings 7 in one of the overlapping edges 6, and strike tangs 8 from the other member 6 into said openings 7, thus eectually locking said edges together. In the present instance, I have provided slots 9 in the member 3 for receiving the posts 2, said slots allowing the member 3 to be withdrawn laterally from said posts and obviating the necessity of slipping said member off longitudinally of the posts.

A cam 10 is rotatably mounted centrally of the member 3, said cam lying between the side walls 5 of the member 3, and having an annular raised portion 11 upon one of its sides which fits into an opening 12 in one side of the member 3 and serves to hold the cam in place. An opening 13 is provided in said cam 10 adapted to receive a key w for turning said cam, for a purpose to appear hereinafter.

At each side of the cam l0 is a block 14 arranged to be forced against the adjacent post 2, springs 15 lying between said blocks and cam. To prevent said blocks 'and springs from sliding out at the ends of the member 3, stop lugs 16 are punched from the side members 5 into the space 4. As shown in Fig. 2, the springs 15 are substantially S- shape and extend from one edge of the clamping member 3 to the other, whereby said springs are held against displacement. The Hat ends of the cam 10 are arranged to be turned into contact with said springs.

In use, the papers to be held are placed upon the posts 2, and the member 3 placed on said posts with the locking mechanism in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. After the member 3 has been pressed down upon the papers firmly enough to hold them, the cam 10 is turned by means of the key to bring its -greatest length substantially parallel with the member 3, the ends of said cam engaging the adjacent arms of the springs 15 and forcing said springs outwardly until the blocks 14 frictionally engage the posts 2, thus locking the member 3 thereon.

In practice the covers of the binder are attached to the side members l and 3 in the commonV or any preferred way, said side members being covered with leather or other suitable material. Such covers have not been illustrated in the drawings, as my invention does not relate thereto.

In the foregoing description I have gone into considerable detail for the sake of clearness, not intending thereby, however, to limit myself to the exact construction shown and described.

I claim as my invention:

l. A lock mechanism for post binders comprising a hollow side member, a cam rotatably mounted between the walls of said side member, a post-engagingblock slidable in said side member, and a spring intermediate said cam and block adapted to be compressed by said cam to move said block into locking position, said spring and said postengaging block being separate from each other and being unattaohed to said cam.

2. In a post binder, a hollow side member; a cam rotatably mounted between the walls of said side member; a post-engaging member slidable in said side member; and a spring intermediate said cam and said postengaging member, adapted to be compressed by said cam to move said post-engaging member into looking position, said spring and said post-engaging member being loose in said side member and being insertible through the end of said hollow side member; and means for preventing said spring and said postengaging member from slipping out of said side member.

3. A lock mechanism for post binders comprising a hollow side member, a cam rotatably mounted in said side member, a postengaging member, a spring adapted to be Compressed by said Cam to move said postengaging member into looking position, the walls of said hollow side member preventing movement of said spring and post-engaging member in a direotion other than longitudinally of said side member, and a tang struck from the Wall of said side member for limiting such longitudinal movement.

t. A post binder comprising a movable side member, said member being formed of an integral folded piece of sheet metal, the edges being secured together by tangs punched from one edge into the other.

5. A post binder comprising a movable side member, said member being formed of an integral folded piece of sheet metal, the edges being secured together by tangs punched from one edge into openings in the other edge.

6. A post binder comprising a movable side member, said member being formed of an integral folded piece of sheet metal having an opening therein near one edge, the edges of said member being locked together by a tang punched from one edge into said opening, said tang engaging one wall of said opening.

GEORGE O. OLSON.

litnesses MATILDA M. DALEY, GEORGE L. CHINDAHL. 

